Walhaschindig
Don’t miss the second annual Walhaschindig, at the Soldiers Memorial Hall in Walhachin on Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. There will be music, artisans, fun activities for the whole family, door prizes, and Krystal’s “Face It” face painting (from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). There will also be food concessions including bannock, Unitea, the Ashcroft Bakery, Anie’s Pies, and a barbecue run by the Ashcroft/Cache Creek Rotary Club,.
The event is being held in conjunction with a community garage sale, and proceeds will benefit the Walhachin museum. Admission and table rentals are by donation; to reserve a table email friends@walhachin.net, or call Assu at (250) 318-6100.
Mother’s Day fly-in
Don’t miss the traditional Mother’s Day fly-in at Campbell Hill airport south of Cache Creek on Sunday, May 14. It’s not just for moms; bring the whole family out to see the many planes and fly-pasts, talk to the pilots, and enjoy the hearty pancake breakfast served up by the Ashcroft and District Lions Club. The site opens at 8:30 a.m., and the Lions will be serving breakfast starting at 10 a.m.
Rotary Citizens of the Year
The Rotary Club of Ashcroft/Cache Creek will be holding a barbecue dinner to honour its 2016 citizens of the year: Bruce and Andrea Walker, Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan, and Maryn William.
The barbecue, which also features a no-host bar, is open to everyone, and will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 27 at the Cache Creek Community Hall. Tickets are $20 each, and can be purchased online at http://coty.bpt.me/, or at the Ashcroft branch of Interior Savings Credit Union.
Protect the McAbee site
While the McAbee Working Group is pleased to share news about plans for the fossil beds near Cache Creek, the site belongs to the Heritage Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, and is still closed to the public. The group is glad that members of the local community share their excitement and enthusiasm about plans to re-open the site, but it remains out-of-bounds at the present time, and unauthorized persons are not allowed onto it. Watch these pages for more news about the site as it becomes available.
For more information about the McAbee working group and plans for the site, email destinationmcabee@gmail.com.
Guitar wizard
Hot off his recent world tour, world champion finger-style guitarist Don Alder will be at the UniTea Tea Room in Ashcroft for a concert on Friday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. Alder’s music is all original, and is a fusion of jazz, folk, roots, blues, bluegrass, and world music. The concert will be an opportunity to catch up with an artist who produces a “wall of sound”.
Tickets are available at the UniTea Tea Shop on Railway Avenue in Ashcroft, or call (250) 453-9345 for more information.
First aid/CPR recertification course
A standard first aid/CPR recertification course will be held in the basement meeting room of the Cache Creek Community Hall from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 27. The course is open to the public, and the cost is $25 per person. This recertification course applies to all standard first aid training, and CPR C recertification is included. For more information, or to register, call Carmen Ranta at (250) 457-1250.
Windows 10 class
The Ashcroft Library is offering a free Windows 10 computer class on Saturday, May 27 from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. Participants will learn how to use the start menu, organize tiles, and search for files, apps, and settings. They will also discover the Windows store and the new method of finding, downloading, and installing apps, and find out about Microsoft accounts and how they affect the Windows 10 experience.
It is recommended that participants have basic computing skills before taking the class. Registration is necessary; to register, do so by emailing dporter@tnrd.ca or by stopping by the Ashcroft Library.
Dry grad
The BC Liquor Distribution Branch raised a total of $322,822 province-wide for its annual Dry Grad program. School District No. 74 (Gold Trail) will receive $2,879 to support dry grad activities in area schools, with Desert Sands Community School in Ashcroft receiving $950, David Stoddart School in Clinton receiving $260, Kumsheen Secondary School in Lytton receiving $547, and Lillooet Secondary School receiving $1,122.
School District funding
The Ministry of Education recently announced the 2017/18 projects approved through the School Enhancement Program (SEP) and the School Bus Replacement Program. The SEP provides funds to extend the life of facilities through projects such as plumbing, boiler and mechanical upgrades, roofing, windows, lighting, electrical, and flooring upgrades.
Gold Trail will receive $309,000 under the SEP for phase one of a project to upgrade the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems at Desert Sands Community School in Ashcroft. The district is also receiving $526,754 for the replacement of four school buses.
Enhanced ICBC claims service
Checking the status of an ICBC claim can now be done online, meaning most customers will no longer have to phone to find out essential information about their claim. The claim status check is available at www.icbc.com/claims.
Customers can check helpful details about the status of their claims 24/7 in order to stay updated. In developing the enhanced online claims service, ICBC used customer feedback to include information on the common questions customers asked adjusters, such as the rental vehicle coverage they are entitled to or the amount of their deductible. The new tool also improves the experience for customers reporting a claim online.
Easier way for small claims disputes
Beginning on June 1, 2017 British Columbians involved in small claims disputes involving sums of up to $5,000 will be able to take part in an online tribunal to resolve the matter. It will be the first on-line tribunal in the world integrated into the public justice system, and will be used for disputes concerning issues such as contracts, debts, personal injury, personal property, and consumer issues.
Use of the on-line tribunal will be mandatory for most claims up to $5,000. Diverting lower-limit monetary claims to the Civil Resolution Tribunal will free capacity within the justice system to resolve other matters.